Devil’s Food Cake for Design Sponge

I am a big fan of Design Sponge‘s “In The Kitchen With” column. Every Friday, they feature talented cooks, bakers, photographers and food stylists from all around the world and publish a recipe for the rest of us to drool over. So when Kristina asked me if I’d like to contribute a recipe and photos for the column, I was simply floored.

Here’s what I came up with: Devil’s Food Cake with Whipped Biscoff Ganache and Chocolate Shards.

Moist and fluffy cake layers with a velvety ganache in the middle. Pure comfort food.

Presentation is everything and it really doesn’t have to be laborious. You are going to love these chocolate shards.

You simply melt chocolate, spread it thinly on a parchment paper, roll it into a tube, chill and unroll. That’s it. Hearing the chocolate breaking into shards as you unroll the tube is priceless.

The ganache part incorporates a recent addiction of mine: Biscoff spread.

Also known as Speculoos cream in some parts of the world, it is a spread made with the famous Belgian spicy cookies. My dad got me hooked on the cookies a while ago (they are fantastic with coffee), but I wasn’t aware of the spread until I read it on David’s blog. I immediately ordered six (ahem) jars and… Well, I’ll never be the same. You can buy the Biscoff spread here.

Looking back (at the empty jars), I am quite surprised that I was able to save a jar for this recipe. It is that good.

For those who have never tasted it: If you like gingersnap cookies, you’re going to love it.

Check out the full article, complete set of photos and the recipe for Devil’s Food Cake here.

Many thanks to Kristina and Design Sponge for this wonderful opportunity.

*Biscoff spread is made from spiced cookies, like gingersnaps. You can substitute peanut or hazelnut butter for the Biscoff spread. If unsweetened, add 1/4 cup of powdered sugar.

For the Chocolate Shards:

4 ounces (120 grams) bittersweet (70% cacao) chocolate, chopped

Method

Start by making the chocolate shards. In order for the chocolate shards to stick to the cake easily, the whipped ganache should be at room temperature, so make sure to have them ready by the time you are finished with the ganache.Place the chopped chocolate in the top of a double boiler set over hot water and allow to melt, stirring often. Place a 16-inch-long parchment paper on your work surface. Pour the melted chocolate onto the paper and using an offset spatula, spread it in a thin and even layer, about 1/3 of an inch off each edge. Place a second sheet of same-sized parchment paper on top and gently press to release the air bubbles. Starting with one short end, roll the parchment paper tightly into an-inch-wide tube. Place it seam side down on a rimmed baking tray and chill in the refrigerator until set, for at least 2 hours.

Have a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper ready and remove the tube from the refrigerator. Unroll the tube in one quick motion, which creates the chocolate shards. Remove the top sheet of parchment paper, and with the help of a large offset spatula go underneath the pieces, pick them up and transfer them to the lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until ready to use. You can make the chocolate shards 3 days in advance.

To make the Devil’s Food Cake, adjust the oven rack to the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F/175°C. Butter two 8-by-2-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Butter the parchment papers, dust with cocoa powder, tap out excess and set aside.

Sift cocoa powder into a medium bowl, add boiling water and whisk until the cocoa is completely dissolved. Add milk and whisk to combine. Set aside to cool.

Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt into a medium bowl and set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and beat on medium speed for 5 more minutes, scraping down the sides with a spatula as necessary. Add the eggs, one at a time, making sure each one is fully incorporated before adding the next. Beat in vanilla.

With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the cocoa mixture.

Divide batter evenly among the prepared pans and smooth the tops. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center of each layer comes out clean, rotating pans halfway through for even baking. Allow to cool in the pans for a few minutes, then take out and leave to cool completely on a wire rack.

To make the whipped Biscoff ganache, place both chocolates in the top of a double boiler set over hot water and allow to melt, stirring often. Remove from heat and whisk in the Biscoff spread. Add the heavy cream and with the help of an electric mixer, whisk until soft peaks form. Be careful not to overbeat, as the frosting will become grainy.

To compose the cake, remove parchment papers from the bottoms of the cakes. Using a long, serrated knife, remove the top crusts to flatten the surface of the cakes. Place one cake on an 8-inch cardboard round or your serving plate (wide strips of parchment paper placed under the cake will keep the serving plate clean after frosting).

Frost the top with a little more than 1/3 of the ganache. Place the second cake on top and frost the top and the sides with the remaining ganache.

Take the frozen chocolate chards out of the refrigerator and gently stick the shards to the ganache with the help of a tweezer. Use long pieces for the sides and smaller pieces for the top. Place the cake in the refrigerator until the ganache is firmly set, for about an hour, then serve.

i discovered your blog through design sponge and i already spent 2 hours reading and drooling over the beautifull photos. i love turkish cuisine, it’s similar to mine, macedonian, and i’m happy than i found a place for turkish (and other) recipes.

What a beautiful, lovely cake! I am planning to try and recreate this for Diwali (huge hindu festival in India) and I have a small question.
Firstly it seems 300gms sugar may make the cake too sweet sp if it has choc ganache etc on it? And also the amount of icing u make, is it extra coz its just looking like too much to frost 1 cake.
Pl let me know! Thanks
Nidhi

Did you know that there’s a Haagen Dazs speculoos ice cream? At least here in Holland there is. Yum!! It tastes great. I love speculoos. In Holland the same cookes are called speculaas and they are made for St. Nicholas’ Day.
The cake looks spectacular!
Magda

10 - Julia on
October 30th, 2010

Makes me want to lick my screen !!!! Looks great and for sure it has to taste much better 🙂

I’m very happy, that I found your blog via Design Sponge. After reading a few sites, I put your blog in my Google Reader Abonnement. Your fotos are great and I appreciate good food styling after working so many years with photographers from all over the world (but this was 20 years ago…).

Thank you so much for the information on how to make choc shards ! It is so simple and so effective that you might have been tempted to hold on to the secret ! Bless you. Thank you for your wonderful pictures.

This cake is so tempting, I had to come over from Flickr to read more about it… A real beauty !

16 - Aracely on
October 31st, 2010

This is absolute food porn, and I love it. I have to thank Design Sponge for taking my hand and leading me to your blog.

I am a native San Franciscan, now living in Philadelphia, and am currently planning my first trip to Turkey next April…

17 - Annie on
October 31st, 2010

So many incredible opportunities coming your way Cenk! The chocolate desserts for Design Sponge and D&G are so creative.

Congratulations on a very good first year as a full time food blogger!

18 - emelll on
October 31st, 2010

although I don’t think I will be able to get the cream, I’ll definitely add the cake and the shadrs on my notebook, anything goes great between tose shiny browns. I’ll make my dream cake, cenk, then I’ll share it with you,some day : ) I’m sure it will be easier than I thought. the thing is, I am not able to start..

hi cenk! just found your website from design sponge’s posting of this absolutely to die for cake and i felt compelled to leave you a comment. this cake looks so gorgeous, your photog skills do it such perfect justice. just stunning. i don’t know if i’ve worked myself up to this kind of baking expertise, but i must try this one day. i must! keep on baking and blogging, can’t wait to see what you put out next! 🙂

OMG! I just now saw this and now you have inspired me to make it since I can get speculoos cream at the local supermarket! YAY!
The choc. shards are beautiful!!

32 - esha shrestha on
December 12th, 2010

The first time i saw a picture of this cake on Design Sponge, i knew i had to try it. I did today, for my sisters’s anniversary and not a crumb leftover, which did my little heart so much joy. Thank you Cenk, for such wonderful recipes. So far i have made your yogurt chocolate cheesecake and the Korova cookies and all have been a huge success. I used to be all about David’s recipes but now i think i found a new baking guru.

Wow, that is some cake. I am marveling over the eveness of your cake layers and ganache in-between and what a creative idea for the rolled up chocolate – i am definitely trying that soon! thanks for this wonderful eye candy – just beautiful!

I made this cake for the 40th birthday of a dear friend, it definitely made an impression. I made three cakes in total, but this one was everyone´s favourite and was gone first. We live in the Netherlands and people here have a soft spot for the `speculoos` flavour. Did you know that originally the speculoos cookies were made for the 5th December celebration of St. Nicolaas´s birthday, which is a feast more important than Christmas here? Thanks for the recipe, I will be back to try more!
p.s. Do you happen to know some interesting recipes using persimmons?

I made this yesterday for my daughter’s 4th birthday and substituted the spread for Nutella. It was a big hit and everybody thought the cake was ordered lol I was a bit apprehensive about cutting the shards but the good thing is that at room temperature, they become softer and are easy to cut. Great recipe!

This cake looks absolutely amazing and I am planning to try it next week… Do you think using Dulce de leche instead of Biscoff will work, or will hazelnut butter be better (since I dont have Biscoff and can not get it in the couple of days)?

I made your cake exactly the way you made it, and it was AMAZING!! By far one of the best cakes I have ever made. I was going to make this cake tomorrow for a birthday party, and was wondering what you thought about doing white and the dark chocolate shards? Do you think the white chocolate would go with the flavors of the cake well?
Thanks!!

Karen – Glad to hear you liked it. As for white chocolate, I’d say go for it! In fact, you can drizzle the white chocolate on top in thin lines (just dip a fork in white melted chocolate and go back and forth on top) after you spread the dark to create a nice effect.

51 - v on
July 24th, 2012

Hi! I LOVE your blog! i want to make this for a friend’s farewell, but one of the guests is allergic to nuts, can i substitute the biscoff with something else??

I made this cake a few days ago, following instructions completely of course. It turned out wonderfully! My family and our guests just loved it. Can’t wait to make it again. Cenk, thank you for generously sharing this recipe and for your thorough instructions. Much appreciated.

54 - amanda on
October 14th, 2012

Thank you for this fantastic recipe! I just finished making this and it is awesome. The shards of chocolate are just over the top!

55 - Lidy on
January 16th, 2013

Hi Cenk,

I already made this recipe and it was loved by everyone! Thank you for sharing. I Want to make this cake again for my friend’s birthday but he wants something with chocolate and bananas. Do you think I can somehow add bananas to the recipe? Thanks for your time and hope to hear back from you soon!

Lidy – Yes, absolutely. You can use bananas instead of the Biscoff spread. Prepare the ganache, add peeled bananas and mix with a hand-held blender until well-blended. It will not be as smooth as this one, but there will be a significant banana flavor.

This has been an amazing experience! I made your cake on my birthday and it tasted so good despite the fact that I couldn’t find either Biscoff spread or Speculoos Cream in Italy. Having taken your advices into account, I decided to go with a combination of Milk & Hazelnut Cream and Peanut Butter.

Thanks a lot for your detailed instructions and also taking time to reply everyone. Almost every single tip was a great deal of help to me.

I admire the quality content of your posts as well as your artistic pictures. I am not much of a photographer but I took some pictures anyway. You can see them here: http://thermomixtarifdefterim.blogspot.it/2013/02/devils-food-cake.html (I adapted your recipe for Thermomix users. Thermomix is a multi functional kitchen machine and very popular in some countries)

Very impressive, I will make this cake this week, Our Son is coming home from the East Coast for a very short visit and I want to serve something very special, Read all the comments, I am so excited. Thank you for all your details, You are wonderful, please stay connected, We need you, Thank you for putting some excitement back into our kitchen.Good Luck on your new book, I am so anxious to purchase it.

I didn’t know that Turkish people know and like some of our Belgian products such as “Speculoos”. I don’t like very much those cinnamon-based “cookies” because I just don’t like cinnamon but this “speculoos” pasta is very used on slices of bread for breakfast time.

Have your ever tasted our “pralines”, those little famous chocolates in a lot of countries? Or our waffles (from Brussels or Liège)? I think you’d enjoy them! 🙂

61 - Metin Beton on
September 19th, 2014

Oh my GOD, that looks so good. I want to eat it all. Mmmmmmm…

62 - Nelo on
November 3rd, 2016

Why the print option is not woriking?
I,ve tried on several recipes and I encoutered the same anoying message:Sorry that page doesn’t exist.Please take a look at the Recipe Index. You might find it there.
When you try with the Recipe Index , same story…

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